In a showcase on the upper level of the iconic Melbourne stadium rests a electric pink suit worn by the entertainer. His concert in front of a hundred thousand fans was seen as a major hit.
You might not appreciate Robbie Williams. Maybe you feel he is the greatest gift to music the world has ever seen. You might take a reasonable stance, conceding that some hits are fantastic while others are poor.
The key argument is that amusement can take many forms. Tastes vary. There is no universal formula to produce music or even Test cricket.
The Peerless Spectrum of The Test Format
The five-day game boasts unrivalled depth. It's difficult to think of another sport where the contest is so dictated by external factors.
The elements, the hour of play, the ball – the list is endless. Above all is the wicket.
If the format is art, the wicket is the blank slate on which the players paint their masterpiece.
A Broken-Down Battle: The Melbourne Spectacle
The recent Melbourne match between the old rivals was the game deconstructed, the great game broken apart and stuck back together in an unusual manner.
Let's be clear, this isn't a defence of the pitch which produced a win and the another short match of the Ashes battle.
Allowing excessive grass on the wicket, leading to numerous dismissals falling in less than two days, is not an even battle between bat and ball.
A Rich Tapestry: The Nature of Test Cricket
But any notion this was a lesser event, one that should be qualified as inauthentic, is mistaken.
The long game is a diverse canvas, a long history and still growing. At times, like in Melbourne, the cricket ball moves excessively for the seamers. Sometimes, it spins sharply on a dust bowl. At other venues, the pitch is flat as a pancake, other times it explodes.
The thrillers are even more exciting because of the patience made in other matches.
Adjustment: The Real Challenge
Some factors are accepted more easily than others.
The debate in during the match was that the contest was tipped too far towards the attack. That the skilled individuals were unable from showcasing their talents.
The format is about adapting to challenges – interpreting the conditions and adjusting appropriately. The top two individual contributions were made by acknowledged stars. One team committed more errors than the other, and thus lost.
Sheer Celebration: The Fan Perspective
Try telling the fans who have experienced a long drought that this wasn't compelling.
In one section of the ground, a sea of people made noise and created an atmosphere, generating a party atmosphere in a bastion of national pride.
There was hope as the attack dominated, momentum when players scored quickly, and pure joy when the win was secured.
Extreme Ends: The Spectrum of Test Matches
The MCG has previous experience with pitch problems. In the past, a match there featured a wicket with all the life of a pulled Christmas cracker.
That contest was a grind, with few wickets and endless boredom. This recent match and that previous match are diametrically opposed points of the spectrum – one is not more the standard, yet significance can be ascribed to them.
At this stage into the current series, it is the shortest games that will live longest in the history books.
"It's not the end of Test cricket at all," commented a past champion. "Fans who have been privileged to see these 48 hours have been treated to some genuine drama. A unique show."
Signs of Progress: Building for the Future
In the build-up to this match, the skipper talked like a man carrying the enormous pressure on his back.
The team delivered for him, reinstating the smile to his persona.
Emerging talents performed with crucial roles. These are baby steps, not nearly enough to guarantee long-term stability, but a starting point to develop from.
Ultimately, this MCG win is added to other historic performances in similar circumstances.
As the crowd slipped away into a glorious Melbourne evening, the players assembled on the outfield to commence their own festivities.
Savour the moment, boys. This victory was hard-fought.
